Coming into this AFC North match-up, Cleveland Browns fans were excited for a possible upset of the division leading Baltimore Ravens. A poor start to the game allowed Baltimore to pull ahead 14-0 and though the Browns did overtake the Ravens 15-14 in the fourth quarter, a Joe Flacco to Torrey Smith touchdown pass gave the Ravens the lead for good with under five minutes to go.
Perhaps most surprising for Browns fans was the poor performance of the rookie out of Oklahoma State Brandon Weeden. He finished the day completing 20 of 37 passes for 176 yards and two interceptions. Despite Weeden's bad day, Dawgs By Nature says Browns fans need to take it easy on the first year player.
What the review above doesn't indicate is that Weeden had a poor showing for the first time since losing to the Eagles in Week 1. I think it comes as a bit of a surprise, considering we've seen him make progress and look so confident in every game since then. There is reason to be upset with Weeden's performance, but anyone calling for his head in his rookie year needs to settle down.
The Browns will now enter their bye week with a record of 2-7. It gets no easier on the other side of their week off when the Browns travel to Texas to take on the Dallas Cowboys then come back home to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss to the Ravens not only hurts the team's record but it could be chipping away at fans confidence.
A win would have improved the fan support of this team tremendously heading into a bye. Instead, whether justified or not, there are going to be questions regarding the future of head coach Pat Shurmur.
Rookie running back Trent Richardson had his third 100 yard rushing game of the season, finishing with 105 yards on 25 carries.